Michael Bay: 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be aliens in revamp'

Michael Bay has revealed a new origin for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the upcoming film.

The producer has said that the characters will be aliens in the live-action revamp of the franchise.

"When you see this movie, kids are going to believe, one day, that these turtles actually do exist when we are done with this movie," Bay said in a video at Nickelodeon Upfront posted by Stuff We Like.

"These turtles are from an alien race and they are going to be tough, edgy, funny and completely lovable."

The reptilian heroes are famously known as pet turtles who mutated into anthropomorphic beings after being exposed to toxic waste in the sewers on New York City.

The franchise first launched as a black and white comic book in 1984. It achieved huge commercial success in the late '80s and early '90s, spawning several live-action films and cartoon series and a massive array of merchandise.